Bradford's top officer says there's no crisis in confidence among police

After calls for “top-to-bottom” changes in the Police Federation and other criticism of England’s police, Bradford’s top police officer Simon Atkin says there is no crisis of confidence among his officers.

A damning report by an independent panel said the federation, which represents 127,000 rank and file officers, exhibited a “worrying loss of confidence and competence” and had suffered a “serious loss of influence” with members now seeing it as weak and unwilling to engage change.

But Chief Superintendent Atkin, who heads the Bradford district division, said he believes the Federation is positive about tackling tough challenges ahead.

“My working relationship with Federation colleagues in Bradford is exceptional and they are very much part of our team,” Mr Atkin said.

“The Federation is massively supportive of our change programme and I think that overall they are doing a good job.

“All senior officers want to keep in touch with reality and even go out on patrol to keep ‘hands on’.

“The new Chief Constable was out himself on New Year’s Eve and making arrests in Leeds.

“And it’s good to have the federation who can nudge us about what rank and file officers are thinking,” he said.

However Chief Supt Atkin said he was aware that changes in work practices, such as restructuring the force with fewer senior detectives, had caused some uncertainty.

“But I don’t think morale has been affected, not by that or by recent headlines surrounding the police.

“Officers and PCSOs are still going out and doing the job they joined up to do.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here